Rock Grove shopping center construction rounding the turn in Rockville (Photos)

The transformation of the aging strip mall at the corner of MD 355 and Shady Grove Road into the new Rock Grove shopping center is nearing completion. Property owner JBG Smith's makeover is showing its true colors with multi-shade facade treatments and surfaces. Even the Jiffy Johns match!

Rock Grove shopping center begins to take shape in Rockville (Photos)

The conversion of the strip mall at the corner of MD 355 and Shady Grove Road into a new shopping center called Rock Grove is well underway. Construction began back in April. You can now see the facade and roofline that was shown in the renderings beginning to take final shape.

Rockville strip mall to be redeveloped as Rock Grove (Photos)

The Shady Grove Professional Building's retail strip mall at the corner of MD 355 and Shady Grove Road is going to be redeveloped as Rock Grove, a more-modern strip retail center. A rendering shown by JBG Smith promises a more modern and attractive appearance, while keeping the same retail use.

Dunkin' Donuts (which is not in the strip mall structure, but rather in the building itself) and Minerva Indian Cuisine are still operating, but other storefronts have been cleared out. It's uncertain which vacated tenants might return in the new center, as JBG Smith is advertising spaces as available in the future Rock Grove Center. It would be nice if they added a fast food restaurant with drive-thru to the parking lot, such as Steak and Shake, Jack-in-the-Box, or Hardee's - any chain currently not found in Montgomery County.

 

MOM's Organic Market in Upper Rock to open June 1

The long-awaited opening of MOM's Organic Market at 10 Upper Rock Circle is almost here. It will open June 1, 2018, and the local chain will be holding an opening weekend celebration at the store from June 1 to June 3.

Officially designated as MOM's Gaithersburg store, the market is located in JBG Smith's Upper Rock development, which is within the city limits of Rockville. A historic office building was torn down to clear the way for this new retail center, which is convenient from both the adjacent Gables Upper Rock apartments and I-270 (just take the Shady Grove Road exit and head east, and it's the first thing you see on the right past the interchange [you'll see the CVS Pharmacy, which is in the same shopping center]).

Opening weekend will include tastings of local foods, kids' activities and giveaways. You'll also have the opportunity to meet representatives from environmental organizations like Waterkeepers Chesapeake and Trash Free Maryland, and staff from Montgomery Parks' Brookside Gardens.

The new MOM's will feature only the highest-quality organic produce, an all-organic vegetarian eatery called Naked Lunch, sustainable insect proteins, a Backyard Beekeeping section with everything you need for this important environmental activity, free car-charging stations, only sustainable seafood (including canned tuna), a wide selection of GOTS-certified organic and sustainable clothing, a liquid bulk section featuring goods like vinegar and honey, a recycling center that can handle household items like cell phones and household batteries, and a large Health and Wellness department, where you can find everything from bulk organic herbs to bulk soap, bath salts and body scrubs.

MOM's does not carry any products that use cartoon characters to target children, and this location will be no exception. 5% of the grand opening sales will be donated to Waterkeepers Chesapeake. MOM's is one of the more on-target tenant choices in Upper Rock, considering that the city envisioned the development as a community for the "creative class" of young professionals. It sounds like they have a wider variety of merchandise than Whole Foods, as well.

CVS Pharmacy opens in Upper Rock area of Rockville (Photos)

The CVS Pharmacy has opened at JBG Smith's Upper Rock development, slightly behind schedule of an expected mid-2017 debut. Still to come are other retail tenants, including MOM's Organic Market. This was formerly an office park development turned into retail space along Shady Grove Road near I-270. The CVS, for GPS purposes, is located at 20 Upper Rock Circle. It features a convenient drive-thru pharmacy, much like the Rockville Town Square location.

SunTrust installs signage at future Galvan location in Rockville (Photos)

The permanent sign is up at the future Galvan at Twinbrook branch of SunTrust bank. Much progress has been made on the interior, and the ATM is already installed. This will be next to the eagerly-awaited Pie 360 pizzeria at the JBG Companies development, which is located on Rockville Pike near the Twinbrook Metro station (but officially addressed as 1801 Chapman Avenue).

Rockville construction update: Pie 360 at The Galvan (Photos)

Things are shaping up at the future Pie 360 at The JBG Companies' Galvan at Twinbrook development in Rockville. The sign is up, and build-out of the interior is nearing completion.

Pie 360 - "Where every pizza is personal" - is a Baltimore-based chain offering customizable pizzas and wraps, as well as salads. Their specialty pizzas include Ring of Fire, Ricotta Infusion, and Buffalo Chicken.

Dunkin' Donuts opening this Saturday at The Galvan in Rockville

Dunkin' Donuts will open its newest Rockville location this Saturday, October 1, in The Galvan at Twinbrook, located at 1800 Rockville Pike. During the first day, there will be music, a prize wheel, and a magician/balloonist on hand between 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. To celebrate the opening, the store will be offering a FREE small hot or iced coffee from October 1 to October 8.

Demolition clearing way for JBG's Upper Rock retail project (Photos)

Demolition of an existing office building at 5 Choke Cherry Road in Rockville is underway. The JBG Companies project there will revamp an office park just off I-270 and Shady Grove Road, and provide convenient retail for the new housing already built in the Gables Upper Rock community.

Tenants on-board already include a 14,600 SF CVS Pharmacy opening next summer, and a 16,000 SF MOM's Organic Market expected to deliver by next fall. MOM's CEO and Founder, Scott Nash, is a Montgomery County resident.

"Our customers have told us over the years how much they’d love a MOM’s between our Rockville and Frederick locations,” Nash said in a statement yesterday. “We’re thrilled to provide what they’ve been asking for with the opening next fall of our Northern Rockville/Gaithersburg store.”

An additional 4100 SF building will be offered for lease to a restaurant and smaller-scale retail tenants. JBG's portion of Upper Rock is 4.5 acres out of the total 20 being redeveloped. New Urbanist architect Andres Duany, the master planner for the Upper Rock redevelopment, is locally best known for his work on the Kentlands.

Renderings courtesy The JBG Companies

Capriotti's is out, Pure Barre is in at Galvan; 9Round to open at The Terano in Rockville

Say it ain't so, Joe (Biden)! The much-hyped Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, a favorite of the Vice President, has pulled out of the Galvan at Twinbrook development, I have confirmed. Thanks to the anonymous tipster who brought this to my attention. I had wondered what was going on with that, given that the franchisee had set a fall 2015 opening date.

But the JBG development continues to lease up with other tenants, trading high-calorie sandwiches for a calorie-burning fitness studio - Pure Barre.

Not to be outdone in the sweat department, JBG's The Terano development is adding 9Round, a kickboxing gym that promises to burn up to 500 calories in 30 minutes. "Say goodbye to the boring big box gyms," the 9Round website advises.

Sign installed at Dunkin' Donuts at Galvan in Twinbrook (Photos)

The permanent sign is installed at the future Dunkin' Donuts in the Galvan development near the Twinbrook Metro station in Rockville. A "D" door handle has also been installed outside. There's still a long way to go on the inside. This is one of several Dunkin' Donuts that have either opened, or are planned to open, in Rockville.

JBG, GSA celebrate completion of new HHS complex at Twinbrook

Pictured from left are
Rod Lawrence, JBG Partner; Kristi Smith, JBG Senior Vice President;
Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett; Greg Trimmer, JBG Principal;
Dr. Mary Wakefield, Acting Deputy Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;
Julia Hudson, GSA Regional Administrator for National Capital Region;
Dr. Howard Haft, Deputy Secretary
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene;
and
Tiffany Waddell, Director of Federal Relations
for Maryland Governor Larry Hogan

Developer The JBG Companies and the U.S. General Services Administration held a ribbon-cutting yesterday to celebrate the completion of the new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services complex at 5600 Fishers Lane in Rockville. Previously known as the Parklawn Building, the 1970s building has been transformed into a collaborative workspace with natural light, and is expected to receive LEED Platinum certifcation. The makeover cost $300,000,000.

Centered around an impressive, 14-story glass atrium, the complex's open floor plans and skybridges facilitate ease of movement and cooperation among employees. Gensler was the architecture firm on the project, with James G. Davis Construction serving as the general contractor.

With 6000 employees and now four HHS agencies under one roof, the GSA still has 350,000 square feet available for expansion on the site. The expansion of federal jobs, along with the County's booming biotech sector, have been among the few bright points in an otherwise-moribund Montgomery County economy over the last decade. Since the residential building boom in the Twinbrook area of Rockville continues, being able to locate thousands of decent-to-high wage federal jobs there is a rare shot in the arm for the County's promise of smart growth.

In many other parts of the City and County, employment centers are being now converted to residential housing, putting more commuters on the road to job centers outside the City. Here, there's a chance for employees to walk to work, or take Metro.

"We truly have reason to celebrate today," said County Executive Ike Leggett at the ribbon-cutting. "I, for one, couldn't be more pleased." JBG Principal Greg Trimmer called the revamped complex a "world-class facility," and praised the collaborative effort among all of the agencies and contractors who made it happen.

The new complex is next to another JBG-developed workplace, the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases. JBG has arguably been the major player in the transformation of Twinbrook, with several commercial and residential projects now completed there.

Smashburger now open at Galvan in Rockville

Smashburger has opened at JBG's new Galvan at Twinbrook development in Rockville. The restaurant opened yesterday, after postponing the original April 6 opening. Galvan is located at 1800 Rockville Pike. Smashburger has several other area locations, including Bethesda and Downtown Crown.

Shobha coming to Galvan at Twinbrook; Dunkin' Donuts posts signs (Photos)

Shobha, which aspires to be "the global destination for hair removal," is coming to Galvan at Twinbrook at 1800 Rockville Pike.

Dunkin' Donuts, meanwhile, has installed Coming Soon signage at its Galvan space. The interior build-out is still underway there, as you can tell from the photos below. Smashburger is primed to open at Galvan next Wednesday, as I reported last week.